tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post877484900736121781..comments2024-03-27T18:20:38.176-05:00Comments on TYWKIWDBI ("Tai-Wiki-Widbee"): A European Peacock butterfly flashes its eyespotsMinnesotastanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01382888179579245181noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-80113931846688353312014-03-02T23:50:07.826-06:002014-03-02T23:50:07.826-06:00It puzzles me that the birds that would normally e...It puzzles me that the birds that would normally eat butterflies haven't evolved the intelligence, after all these thousands of generations, to know that the "eyes" on the wings of these butterflies aren't part of a larger predator (one with claws that meows, perhaps)? Some of these predatory bird species are smart enough to recognise their spouse from within a large group of maybe thousands of - to us, identical - birds of the same species, like gannets on the sides of cliffs. So why does this eyespot trick still work? Any clues?<br /><br />Just thinking about the Professor's idea about eyespots on surfboards and wetsuits, it's possible that our little eyes, being at the front and usually above the waterline, don't work as a deterrent if a shark has tasted us already or is hungry and tempted. If we put big eye spots on the back, wouldn't they just circle around to our front? A safer alternative might be to admit that putting yourself into a shark's world is inherently dangerous and should be avoided by taking up another sport...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-37542331683941182742014-03-02T13:03:24.895-06:002014-03-02T13:03:24.895-06:00If eyespots work on animals, why shouldn't we ...If eyespots work on animals, why shouldn't we put eyespots on the bottom of surfboards and on the back of wetsuits? Sharks almost only attack from the back. Prof. Roger Kovacinyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16173555692890319085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912713243046142041.post-29828581875260798742014-03-01T03:20:15.300-06:002014-03-01T03:20:15.300-06:00What a lovely butterflyWhat a lovely butterflybunnitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07762412508859521913noreply@blogger.com